Dear Sidney,

After 46 wonderful years with my one-and-only man, my husband passed away. Several years later I was asked out on my first date since 1964. I met an age-appropriate fellow casually at an event and, when asked, I gave him my number. Soon after, he invited me to meet him for dinner, as we live 30 miles apart. All the way down the mountain, I questioned myself as to how to act, what to say?

At dinner, while holding my hand, he complimented me on my looks. I, too, found him attractive. As is my way, I babbled on about my kids, the grandkids, and how hard it is to find a reliable handyman. He listened and was oddly quiet. When he walked me to my car, he surprised me with an invitation to spend the upcoming weekend with him in Palm Springs.

My girlfriends, who have much more experience with this type of thing, warned me to wait until after three dates before taking the dive.

I ask you, is there a minimum amount of dates before a couple should engage in sexual activity?

Horny in Running Springs

Dear Horny,

Getting to know you; getting to feel free and easy; when I am with you, getting to know what to say – The King and I, Rodgers and Hammerstein

First of all, I don’t believe that you and this fellow are a “couple” after only one Senior Special at Denny’s. Certainly, three spins through the McDonald’s drive-through will not make you a “couple.”

Ah, romance: the urgent chemistry, the oxytocin rush, and the heartbreaking thud when the phone stops ringing.

Any man who invites you to spend the night after just one meeting is up to no good. And if he’s in his mid 70s, he’ll be popping Viagra before popping the champagne.

Be good to yourself. If you are truly interested in kindling this relationship, put Casanova through a few gentle hoops. For Date No. 2, insist that he drive up the steep and winding road to pick you up at your house. Good luck.

Sidney

Send your questions for Sidney to [email protected] or by snail mail to Dear Sidney, The Alpine Mountaineer, P.O. Box 4572, Crestline, CA 92325.

This advice is intended for entertainment purposes only. No animals were harmed in the writing of this column.